Archery bow stabilizer

ABSTRACT

The bow stabilizer assists a bowman in positioning and holding the bow in a draw by causing the plane of the bow to remain in the vertical plane by providing a force counteracting the draw pull of the bowman&#39;s opposite hand. The device is secured at one end to the bowman&#39;s shoulder and secured at the other end to the bowman&#39;s hand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/201,432 filed on Dec. 10, 2008 by the present inventors, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to an arm stabilizer or in particular, an arm stabilizer for bows. The bow and arrow as a means for launching a projectile at a distant target is ancient. The bow and arrow suffers from inherent accuracy deficiencies due to the mechanics of drawing the bow and launching the arrow. If the bow is not drawn to the same position each time the bow is drawn, the flight path of the arrow launched from the bow will be changed each time the arrow is released. The mechanics of drawing and aiming a bow and arrow are such that it is difficult to hold the bow steady when the bow is fully drawn.

Numerous, inefficient attempts have been made to aid the bowman in developing a consistent draw and/or to provide a steady-rest for a bowman while holding a bow in the drawn position. The present invention relates to a bow stabilizer and more particularly to a portable lightweight bow stabilizer that corrects the natural offset due to the bowman pulling and holding the draw.

Relevant prior art includes:

U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,414 July 2003 McMillan, III U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,707 January 2001 Howell, et. al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,867 October, 1994 Vest U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,301 May 1985 A'Costa

The known bow stabilizers of the prior art have certain disadvantages and limitations. Although the devices of the prior art may be used to support the weight of the bow during extended periods of time, the bow cannot be easily engaged without pulling away from the intended target. This undesirable movement results from the force of the draw hand pulling the bow to the side.

Another disadvantage of the prior art devices is that such devices are physically attached to the bow and do not allow easy removal. These devices remain in place and potentially interfere with the bowman's line of vision or freedom of movement in aiming at the intended target. Other disadvantages of the devices of the prior art is that they are in general bulky and add additional weight to the bow. Other disadvantages of the devices of the prior art is that they are composed of rigid elements and do not allow for adjustment in device arm length to suit the individual needs of a particular bowman.

Accordingly, a need exists for a bow stabilizer that does not possess the limitations stated above. In particular, a need exists for a bow stabilizer that compensates for sideward pull and allows for adjustment in length. Additionally, this bow stabilizer should be portable and lightweight.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a bow stabilizer which satisfies all the foregoing needs. The bow stabilizer does not interfere with the bowman's line of sight. The force of the draw hand pulling the draw is offset, since the bow stabilizer provides a means of tensioning in order to counteract draw pull. The stabilizer is portable and lightweight; and allows adjustment for the individual bowman.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings in which like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the bow stabilizer.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the bow stabilizer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following description includes the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims. Reference is made to FIGS. 1-2, which shows the arm or bow stabilizer 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. The invention may be referred to as an arm stabilizer since it stabilizes the arm for steadying an archery bow, pistol, video camera, and the like.

FIG. 1 illustrates bow stabilizer 10 of this invention in one of its simplest forms is shown as an elongated strap-like device. A flexible 18 inch loop or strap 11 is attached to a rectangular eye bolt 12. The rectangular eye bolt 12 is attached or coupled to a length of flexible tubing 13 and padding assembly 14. The opposite end of flexible tubing 13 and padding assembly 14 is attached or coupled to a second rectangular eye bolt 12. The length of flexible tubing 13 is in the middle section between the flexible 18 inch loop or strap 11 and the flexible 36 inch loop or strap 16. The length of flexible tubing 13 serves to linearly connect the loops and to provide a tensioning means or force in the bow stabilizer 10. As shown on FIG. 2, wire ties 15 secure the rectangular eye bolts 12 to the flexible tubing 13 at both ends. The second rectangular eye bolt 12 is attached to a flexible 36 inch loop or strap 16. The flexible 36 inch loop or strap 16 is attached to a slider buckle 17 which slides the length of flexible 36 inch loop or strap 16. The flexible 36 inch loop or strap 16 attaches on the shoulder of the bowman. The bowman adjusts the flexible 36 inch loop or strap 16 to the appropriate length to fit his shoulder. The bowman inserts the flexible 18 inch loop or strap 11 which serves as a stirrup, inside his hand.

Operation of the invention involves the bowman raising the bow until it creates a tension in flexible tubing 13 and thereby creating a tension in the bow stabilizer 10. This causes the plane of the bow to come into a vertical attitude. An upward tension is maintained in flexible tubing 13 thereby stabilizing and fixing the bowman's hold of the draw. The padding assembly 14 prevents the bowman's arm from rubbing against the flexible tubing 13. In normal shooting, holding the draw pulls the plane of the bow in the direction of the draw hand. However, the tension in flexible tubing 13 counteracts the draw pull and maintains the plane of the bow in the vertical position. The resulting consistently reproducible positioning and stable holding of the draw results in markedly superior shooting accuracy and consistency over that which would be achieved by the same bowman without the bow stabilizer 10 of this invention.

The bow stabilizer 10 may be constructed from traditional materials used to fabricate slings and the like. These materials include leather, plastic, rubber, cordura, and the like. The flexible tubing 13 and padding assembly 14 run parallel to one another, so that the padding assembly 14 protects the bowman's arm from contact with the flexible tubing 13. The bow stabilizer 10 can be designed in larger and smaller sizes. The flexible tubing 13 serves as a means of tensioning the bow stabilizer 10. A means of tensioning may be achieved by other elastic elements including a spring, rubber cord, or the like.

Many variations of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. Some variations include the bow stabilizer 10 dimensions; and the number and size of the flexible tubing 13, flexible 18 inch loop or strap 11, and flexible 36 inch loop or strap 16. Other variations include the mechanism by which the tension is created; for example, a spring creating the tension as opposed to flexible tubing 13. The bow stabilizer 10 in this invention can also be used to hold and stabilize a pistol or other firearm. All such variations are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Although some embodiments are shown to include certain features, the applicant specifically contemplates that any feature disclosed herein may be used together or in combination with any other feature on any embodiment of the invention. It is also contemplated that any feature may be specifically excluded from any embodiment of an invention. 

1. An archery bow stabilizer comprising an elongated strap-like device having: (a) adjacent one end a first loop for engaging the hand; (b) a second loop at opposite end of said first loop for engaging the one shoulder on said same side of the body as said hand; (c) a tensioning means, spaced between the said first loop and said second loop; and (d) a coupling means whereby said first loop, said second loop, and said tensioning means are linearly connected together.
 2. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the said tensioning means is formed of an elastic material.
 3. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the said tensioning means includes a means of minimizing the contact of said tensioning means against bowman's arm.
 4. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 3 wherein the said means of minimizing the contact of said tensioning means against bowman's arm includes a padding assembly.
 5. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 1 wherein said second loop is adjustable.
 6. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 3 wherein the said elastic material is formed of a length of flexible tubing.
 7. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 3 wherein the said elastic material includes a spring.
 8. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the said coupling means includes eye bolts.
 9. A method for stabilizing and positioning a bow having at least, a tensioning means, a hand end, a shoulder end, and comprising: 1) attaching a shoulder end of a strap to the bowman's shoulder, 2) attaching a hand end of a strap to the bowman's hand, wherein bowman's hand is on same side of body as bowman's shoulder; 3) engaging the bow grip by the bowman's hand, raising the bow until a tension is established in the strap; thereby bringing the bow into a vertical plane and maintaining the tension in the strap while drawing the bow, and further providing a force counteracting the draw pull of the bowman's opposite hand.
 10. An archery bow stabilizer comprising: (a) an elongated strap having a middle section, a shoulder end, and a hand end; (b) said middle section having a tensioning means for providing a tension force in said strap; (c) said hand end provided with a means for connecting said strap to bowman's hand; and (d) said shoulder end provided with a means for connecting said strap to bowman's shoulder; whereby said middle section, said hand end, and said shoulder end are linearly connected by a coupling means.
 11. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 10 wherein the said tensioning means maintains a tension in said strap while drawing the bow and further provides a force counteracting the draw pull of the bowman's opposite hand.
 12. An archery bow stabilizer of claim 11 wherein the said force counteracting the draw pull of the bowman's opposite hand results in an improved shooting accuracy and consistency. 